Cultivating a conversational intimacy with Jesus is essential in our desire to be formed by Jesus to be like Jesus for the sake of the world. And yet, many in the church today are convinced that either God doesn’t speak to them, or they cannot hear God. Our prayer for this series is for each of us to have a greater sense of how we most often hear God so we might grow into a deeper life with God. What if we cultivated a life in which we listened to God in the midst of our ordinary day so we might deepen our friendship with God?
This week, Holly Bosier guided our contemplation on hearing God. We considered the gentle voice of love that comes from the Good Shepherd and the accusing voice of the enemy. As we cultivate a deeper bond with Jesus, we are able to stand against the words of the enemy to follow our Good Shepherd more closely.
Kingdom Practices
In this series, we are on the lookout for how God is speaking as we cultivate a conversational intimacy with God. Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd and says his sheep know his voice. So this week, our invitation is to choose one thing Jesus says in the Gospels and contemplate it every day this week. You might choose a question Jesus asks:
- “What do you want me to do for you?”
- “Who do you say I am?”
Or maybe a statement:
- “I call you friend.”
- “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
- “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Choose one of these words or another from Jesus and read it three times every day. Carry these words with you, walk with them, chew on them, and ask Jesus to teach you.
You can find the Order of Practice here.
Additional Resources
Hearing God by Dallas Willard
When the Soul Listens by Jan Johnson
Seeking God by Trevor Hudson
Walking with God by John Eldredge
Listening Prayer by Leanne Payne
An Unhurried Life by Alan Fadling
Hold that Thought by Gem Fadling
Quieting the Mental Committee to Hear God (a Renovaré podcast with Jan Johnson)
The Still Small Voice and its Rivals (a teaching from Dallas Willard)
One Minute Pause (an app with guided practices for slowing down)
If you have a story to share about how you have been encountering God in this season, we would love to hear it!
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